01x01 - Himekishi wa Haiboku no Toriko

[bunniefuu]

Where am I?

Shackles?! On my legs as well?!

And a collar?

I see. It appears I've
been taken prisoner.

After being defeated by mere barbarians...


the continent— Barbarian Territory

r*fle brigade, take positions!

Fire!

Keep sh**ting!

Captain! The barbarians'
resistance is too fierce!

The volunteer troops are wiped out,

and front line of our
left wing has collapsed!

Compose yourself! Or are you not a knight
of Illodren's Eastern Expedition?!

Have the left wing pull back!

Extend the center and right outwards
into a partial wing formation!

We'll deflect the savages' attacks
and begin a fighting retreat!

Still, even if we're able
to force our way past them,

we've lost too many from our
primary forces.

Any further losses will affect
our chances of returning home.

This will mark the end of the seven-year
long 17th Eastern Expedition...

I need to ensure as many of my comrades
return home alive as possible.

That crystal helmet...

I take it you're
the Eastern Expedition's general?

I've grown tired facing
these mere foot soldiers.

Will you face me alone?

Of all the times for one
of their elite to appear...

But if I ignore someone with a blade
that can shred plate armor like paper,

the withdrawal will never succeed.

Is it overconfidence?

If they're willing to take
this into individual combat,

I have no reason to refuse.

Lieutenant!

Y-Yes?!

Numbers will do us no
good against that one.

You must take it from here.

Let my brother know that I gave
my life in service to my homeland!

Princess Wysteresia!
Please, lend me your strength!

This is as far as I go...

Well done. There are few who have
stood against me as long as you have.

k*ll me!

I refuse.

Instead, you will be mine.

Fear not. You survival isn't in question.

Not when I can think of
good uses for that body.

That's right... I was...
taken away as his spoils.

W-Will they be putting me to work
in the fields, like livestock?

No, t*rture to learn what
they can will likely come first...

They took me alive. I have to imagine
that was done with a plan in mind.

Not when I can think of
good uses for that body.

I-I hate to even consider it...

but if I was captured
because I'm a woman...

Will they make sport of me?!

What a shameful state of affairs
for an unmarried noble woman!

Am I in the den of a pack of animals?!

And what's become of the troops
who swore to fight for me?!

The amount of time I was able to buy

couldn't possibly have been enough
for an organized withdrawal!

Even if the rear was able to get away,

the front lines would have
been broken into pieces...

Likely either struck down
or wasting away in the wilds...

But more pressing than that...

Without control over the eastern
lands, where the barbarians rule,

the people of the capital will...

The frustration of being unable
to defend the people's livelihood,

as is a noble's duty...

You're certainly taking the "noble"
part of the title literally.

Who are you?!

My name is Cersei.
I serve the man who captured you.

I see.

Are you here to press me for intelligence?

Intelligence? What are you talking about?

Do not play ignorant, barbarian girl!

You're here to use
those strange implements

to force me to talk, aren't you?!

I was only given one command.

To make sure that you,
his victory trophy,

are in a condition that is to his liking.

Trophy...?

W-What are you doing?!

Isn't it obvious? It'll be harder
if you're able to struggle.

So, it begins...

But these restraints... just how
vicious will my treatment be?

But even so, I...

will not submit to mere t*rture!

She'll likely be awake by now...

My treasure.

What is this? What is the meaning of this?

There. You're a lot cleaner than you were.

Seriously, what are you doing?!

I'm not sure what you expect me to say.

I was wiping the blood
and filth off of you.

I mean, you were a mess.

What?

And I have to say, I heard you
exchanged blows with my master...

So I expected more of a brutish
woman, but you're certainly...

Even from my view as another woman,
you cut quite the feminine figure.

Are you mocking me?!
A knight has no need of femininity!

Is that right?

Well, your say doesn't
really factor into it.

What matters is that
you've caught his eye.

What are you talking about?

Would telling you really
make a difference?

No.

Nothing would change, even if I told you.

You will never leave here again.

Then... you really are here to...

Now, for the finishing touches.

Is this it for me?

What are these clothes?

So she wasn't here to
interrogate or t*rture me?

This scent...

Who puts scented oils on prisoners of w*r?

But that's not the
real question, which is:

what am I being prepared for?

Now, then, I would say
you're looking presentable.

Is this some sort of barbarian
ritual for prisoners?

Don't tell me—

What was that?! Thunder?

No, that shout could
belong to no one else.

It's him, then.

Well, now...

It's like night and day, Crystal Helmet.

We had no time to exchange
names during the battle...

I am heir to Great Chief Uldyn One Eye,

Thundering Voice Veor.

Seeing him again like this,
he's absolutely massive!

And those golden eyes...
He can't be human.

I see what you people are after...

My grandfather told me of the Eastern
Expedition that happened 20 years ago,

that he was part of...

It sounded like a fairy tale,
but, now the truth is clear.

Those inhuman eyes reveal all!

I am of the Lavillant Margraves
of the Illdoren Kingdom,

youngest daughter to the
former lord, Mattius,

commander of the Eastern Expeditionary
Force's First Company,

Serafina de Lavillant!

And I have no desire to beg for mercy!

However this sacrifice works,
do with me as you will!

That's right. No matter what happens to
me, I can at least maintain my dignity!

Serafina...

Sera, then. A good name.

That said, Sera,
what's this talk of a sacrifice?

I've brought you here
to take you as my bride.

B-Bride?! Who?!

You.

Whose?!

Mine.

I've heard of no such thing!

You can't fool me!

You're trying to lower my guard

so I can be used in some bizarre ritual!

If that was the idea,
why wait all this time?

But aren't we enemies?!

Who says you can't wed your enemy?

Everybody!

Well, that may be the case in
the west, but it isn't our way.

What?

For generations, my clan...

has made a tradition of taking
lady knights as our brides!

Th-This is madness!

Do you really think that insane
logic is enough to convince me?!

It's not?

Not at all!

You already said I can
do with you as I will.

Or was that all talk?

I was careless!

All that said, I don't make this decision
out of respect for law or tradition.

When we crossed swords,
your quality was apparent to me.

The sword speaks in greater
volume than thousands of words.

I sensed a profound
sincerity from your blade.

It was enough that I fell
for you in that moment.

Fell... for...?

That being the case, you won't be
taken against your will, so relax.

We'll speak later, Sera.

W-Wait a moment!

Wh-Wha...

What is going on here?!

You're being courted,
if it wasn't obvious.

The king has sent forth orders.

The 17th Eastern Expedition
is to commence.

My sister, Serafina...

You have been named as captain
of the first company.

Earn glory that befits the Lavillant name.

I will!

Wait.

There's an invitation to a banquet
from from Countess Ildhal.

What of it?

Well, it was addressed
to "Princess" Serafina.

I will attend, of course.

Get that thief!

Sounds like it pays well.

I'm scared, though... A pal of mine
who signed up never made it back.

An expedition to the east?

I'm gonna join the volunteer army!

Hey, it's the Lavillants' coach!

My, what a rare guest to have.

She certainly is.

The quality of food has
been so poor as of late.

But the longer the w*r goes on,
the more we profit from it.

Indeed...

Princess Serafina certainly cuts a figure.

She's more dashing than she is beautiful.

Someone like that, commanding knights.

What a state of affairs.

Imagine, being led by a woman.

That said, she is among the
strongest of the order.

And it's only natural for a Lavillant
to command an army, but...

What's the point in a woman being strong?

I want to go home.

Lady Serafina.

Here you are. We were looking for you.

You shouldn't be alone out here.
Please, join us.

It's been so long.
I wonder how many years it's been.

I heard you were named a commander
for the Eastern Expedition?

Yes.

How dreadful! Isn't the east full
of violent, undiscovered creatures?

Rumors tell of fire-breathing
dragons and other monsters.

Dragons and monsters are
the stuff of fables.

But it'll still be dangerous.

Since you're going to
fight the barbarians...

Aren't they supposed to be more
like animals in human form?

And they kidnap lady knights
and use them as sacrifices!

If the eastern lands are
really that terrible,

no woman should set foot upon them.

Conquering the east

has been a goal of the
Illdoren Kingdom since its founding...

As a member of the nobility,
it is an honor to be sent there

for the sake of the
people and their peace!

You should leave that sort of
thing to the men to handle.

What possible good could come
from fighting as a woman?

Even Princess Wysteresia,
whom you so looked up to,

ended up going missing on the b*ttlefield.

There is no greater happiness as a woman

than to get married and
manage a household.

They have it so easy.

A veritable feast accompanied
with lively music...

While the people only grow hungrier,
as our crops continue to fail...

S-Someone, help!

That's enough!

Resist and I won't guarantee your lives.

These people are...

That sword... She's a noble.

It don't matter! We gotta do this!

This is your first time stooping
to this sort of thing, isn't it?

It's better than dying of hunger!

You'd never understand!

And you'll never do evil again?

We can really take it?

Yes.

Thank you!

I'll be able to feed my kid!

We'll never do it again.

Come on.

Yeah.

We really owe her...

Yeah!

Just endure a bit longer.

I will conquer the east

so that you all can live fuller lives.

I take my leave now.

I will fight with all I have for
the people and for the kingdom.

Please, watch over me...

Princess Wysteresia.

Serafina.

Brother...

Did you fail to find a
husband again at the party?

What are you saying?
I was about to head out to—

Silence.

A woman, wanting to be a knight?

How long will you insist
on this selfishness?

What are you saying...?

You've more than established
yourself at this point.

You need to marry while
there are viable prospects.

A sword has never changed policy.

Sera...

Sera... Sera... Sera!

Be my bride!

Wh-What the—?!

You will be my bride!

A dream? Of the barbarian? But why?

What is that sound?